We really enjoyed Christmas with Bert, Nubia, and Jackie. What a fun time. Thanks to all of you who sent gifts to us through them, as well. They are being enjoyed, for sure. They fly out from Accra tonight so say a prayer for them. Joel took them to the airport in Tamale, bought a few groceries, and was back in Nalerigu by noon yesterday!
Today I've been trying to get the house back in order. There are many Christmas gifts that need to find a place here now. I have guest house, school, and housekeeping duties to get caught up on. And maybe I can load a few more photos on here, as well.
School starts Monday. In the meantime, it's time to potty train two-year-old Annaleigh. That starts tomorrow. Abigail is looking forward to helping and Annaleigh can't wait to be a big girl!
The hospital stays as busy as ever. We are thankful for our volunteers, to be sure.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Family Visit to Gambaga
We are enjoying having Bert, Nubia, and Jackie here with us. Yesterday I took them with me to visit the women at the Outcast Camp in Gambaga. I have figured out they are stronger in numbers on Wednesday. There were so many women there making jewelry.
I enjoyed sharing with them from God's Word out of Luke 2. There is no doubt our Father's presence is there. Many of the women are believers.
To be so utterly rejected by either your family or those in your community, to be abused as you are being accused, to have your home destroyed-what devastation. There was a new woman since I had been there the last time. These women have to adjust to their new life, adjust to being rejected, and go through a grieving process. Please pray for these women as the Lord leads you.
I enjoyed sharing with them from God's Word out of Luke 2. There is no doubt our Father's presence is there. Many of the women are believers.
To be so utterly rejected by either your family or those in your community, to be abused as you are being accused, to have your home destroyed-what devastation. There was a new woman since I had been there the last time. These women have to adjust to their new life, adjust to being rejected, and go through a grieving process. Please pray for these women as the Lord leads you.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Cooking Class Photo 2
More at the Nutrition Center
Ephraim
Date Night
Joel and I had a date last night. We enjoy having a date night every week when we are home in Texas. Dan and Linda gave us a date night while they were here and now Bert, Nubia, and Jackie gave us one last night.
Date night here in Nalerigu usually consists of going to an empty guest house to do any of the following: watch a movie, eat/drink something we bring with us, talk, pray, read the Bible, etc. Last night we watched "The Help," a new movie on dvd that Nubia brought for us. It was very good. Even movie previews become exciting once you've been on the field awhile!
Bert, Jackie, and Nubia put the girls to bed. Then they watched "White Christmas" with Colt. I LOVE that movie. Such a classic Christmas movie. Great story, great songs that stay with you. So nice to have them all here right now!
There is one restaurant that we have eaten at one time. We had a double date with Keenan and Cindy Wilson while they were here. Keenan made a "reservation" to let them know we were coming that night. We were the only customers and ate chicken and fried rice. We enjoyed our time with them.
Date night here in Nalerigu usually consists of going to an empty guest house to do any of the following: watch a movie, eat/drink something we bring with us, talk, pray, read the Bible, etc. Last night we watched "The Help," a new movie on dvd that Nubia brought for us. It was very good. Even movie previews become exciting once you've been on the field awhile!
Bert, Jackie, and Nubia put the girls to bed. Then they watched "White Christmas" with Colt. I LOVE that movie. Such a classic Christmas movie. Great story, great songs that stay with you. So nice to have them all here right now!
There is one restaurant that we have eaten at one time. We had a double date with Keenan and Cindy Wilson while they were here. Keenan made a "reservation" to let them know we were coming that night. We were the only customers and ate chicken and fried rice. We enjoyed our time with them.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Nutrition Center
They made it!
Bert, Nubia, and & Jackie made it to Nalerigu yesterday! Joel went to pick them up at the airport in Tamale. Then they all picked up a few groceries there before heading this way. We are so glad they are here. I'm hoping they are getting some good rest right now.
I will really try to be more diligent about posting on the blog, even when photos don't go through.
Heading to church later this morning.
Thanks to all of you who sent things with Bert, Nubia, and Jackie. What a blessing!
I will really try to be more diligent about posting on the blog, even when photos don't go through.
Heading to church later this morning.
Thanks to all of you who sent things with Bert, Nubia, and Jackie. What a blessing!
Friday, December 16, 2011
The Wilsons Depart
The same day our friends, Dan and Linda, left here (last Saturday), Keenan and Cindy Wilson also left Nalerigu with their children. They stayed in Ghana all week doing sight-seeing and a bit of shopping. We already miss them so much. We are so thankful for their time and service here. We will continue to follow them and see what the Lord has next for this remarkable family.
Friends & Family
Last week we were blessed to have a visit from our good friends, Dan and Linda Wilson. They had gone to Uganda, Kenya, and London before arriving in Ghana. They held marriage conferences as part of their trip. We so enjoyed having them. It is hard to put their visit into words. It was so good to have them here. They are home now and are hopefully getting some much deserved rest.
Tomorrow Joel's dad, Nubia, and Jackie arrive here in Nalerigu and stay for two weeks. We are all looking forward to having them. How nice it will be for all of us. And how great for them to be here where we are currently living and serving. Joel goes to Tamale in the morning to pick them up.
This is the last day of school for us. Colt is very excited about the Christmas holidays now-especially the part about no school! It will be nice to have a break. Abigail likes school and will miss it a bit, though she can't wait to see our family.
The kids are all growing and changing. They grow up too fast, don't they?
Baby's baby, little Ephraim, is also growing up, too. We are blessed by them. Baby and her family are doing well.
I have so many photos I want to post. I try when I am able.
Some have asked again for our address:
Dickens
BMC
Box 50
Nalerigu via Gambaga
Ghana NR
Also, if you try to contact us and don't hear back, please email again. That is the best way to get us: 2ghana@gmail.com.
Tomorrow Joel's dad, Nubia, and Jackie arrive here in Nalerigu and stay for two weeks. We are all looking forward to having them. How nice it will be for all of us. And how great for them to be here where we are currently living and serving. Joel goes to Tamale in the morning to pick them up.
This is the last day of school for us. Colt is very excited about the Christmas holidays now-especially the part about no school! It will be nice to have a break. Abigail likes school and will miss it a bit, though she can't wait to see our family.
The kids are all growing and changing. They grow up too fast, don't they?
Baby's baby, little Ephraim, is also growing up, too. We are blessed by them. Baby and her family are doing well.
I have so many photos I want to post. I try when I am able.
Some have asked again for our address:
Dickens
BMC
Box 50
Nalerigu via Gambaga
Ghana NR
Also, if you try to contact us and don't hear back, please email again. That is the best way to get us: 2ghana@gmail.com.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Outcast Camp
Joel is giving me time to try to get a little done on the computer. I wanted to let you all know about my trip this week to the Outcast Camp at a nearby village called Gambaga. This camp is for women who have been accused of witchcraft. They are literally cast out (and often abused in the process) from their home and their village due to these accusations. The chief of this village, Gambaga, 15 minutes from us in Nalerigu, has given permission for these women to live a protected life at the camp there in his village.
Some of these women eventually are assimilated back into their homes and villages. However, many are not. Younger women have their children with them because they need to raise them. Older women (often widows) have their older grandchildren with them because they have a harder time getting around as elder women and need help.
A few years ago while we were here the first time, a young woman here from the States with the Peace Corp named Carolyn Abdenour wrote a grant to get funds to teach these women how to make jewelry. She thought this would be another way to help them support themselves. When the grant came through, she needed someone to help teach the women jewelry making skills. Melinda Emerson was here for a few days as a volunteer while her husband was operating here at BMC as an OB/Gyn. She knows MUCH about teaching jewelry making and together these two gave the women of Gambaga a new way to earn money. Thank you, Lord.
Then, while the Nyhus family was here, Wendy visited them as often as she could to share the Word with them, as well as just love on these women. What fond relationships there are still between Wendy and these women.
The Ghanian woman who oversees and cares for these women each day is named Laraba. She is a beautiful Christian who tirelessly helps these who are outcast by others. She shares the Word with them herself, as well as teaches the children their when she can. The ways she helps these women are countless.
Each time I'm able to be with these women, it is a pleasure. One of the small groups in our church recently wanted to send some things our way. One of the needs I let them know about was the women here and how sending some jewelry making supplies could help them. We have received most of what this group sent to us by now. I took the jewelry supplies out to the ladies this week. They were very excited! They use the money they make from the jewelry to buy more jewelry supplies, as well as food for their group. Thank you so much to all those who contributed through the Bird CLG!
I've gone out several times with Cindy Wilson. It was my pleasure to share a word on Joseph while there. I started with the early part of Joseph's history, reading about his early life with his brother and fathers. Once we have covered many parts of his life, there will be some good lessons for these women in these verses, I believe. One woman shared afterward that she received Christ. What great plans the Lord has!
If you want to learn more about these women, you can find several sources online if you search "outcast camp gambaga" in either Google or Youtube.
Some of these women eventually are assimilated back into their homes and villages. However, many are not. Younger women have their children with them because they need to raise them. Older women (often widows) have their older grandchildren with them because they have a harder time getting around as elder women and need help.
A few years ago while we were here the first time, a young woman here from the States with the Peace Corp named Carolyn Abdenour wrote a grant to get funds to teach these women how to make jewelry. She thought this would be another way to help them support themselves. When the grant came through, she needed someone to help teach the women jewelry making skills. Melinda Emerson was here for a few days as a volunteer while her husband was operating here at BMC as an OB/Gyn. She knows MUCH about teaching jewelry making and together these two gave the women of Gambaga a new way to earn money. Thank you, Lord.
Then, while the Nyhus family was here, Wendy visited them as often as she could to share the Word with them, as well as just love on these women. What fond relationships there are still between Wendy and these women.
The Ghanian woman who oversees and cares for these women each day is named Laraba. She is a beautiful Christian who tirelessly helps these who are outcast by others. She shares the Word with them herself, as well as teaches the children their when she can. The ways she helps these women are countless.
Each time I'm able to be with these women, it is a pleasure. One of the small groups in our church recently wanted to send some things our way. One of the needs I let them know about was the women here and how sending some jewelry making supplies could help them. We have received most of what this group sent to us by now. I took the jewelry supplies out to the ladies this week. They were very excited! They use the money they make from the jewelry to buy more jewelry supplies, as well as food for their group. Thank you so much to all those who contributed through the Bird CLG!
I've gone out several times with Cindy Wilson. It was my pleasure to share a word on Joseph while there. I started with the early part of Joseph's history, reading about his early life with his brother and fathers. Once we have covered many parts of his life, there will be some good lessons for these women in these verses, I believe. One woman shared afterward that she received Christ. What great plans the Lord has!
If you want to learn more about these women, you can find several sources online if you search "outcast camp gambaga" in either Google or Youtube.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Another C-section
One of the other physician families here right now posted a photo of Joel and their daughter performing a c-section. Neat post. We will miss the Wilsons when they leave next month. They have been such a blessing. Their time here has flown by.
http://fivefollowers.blogspot.com/
http://fivefollowers.blogspot.com/
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
It's Been Too Long
Well, we're still out here in Ghana. We've been busy with much going on. The Nyhus Family has gone back to Kansas as the Lord called them home. They did so much ministry in their time here. The hospital compound is different again without them all here. So, now all the missionaries are sharing the guest house responsibilities. I am handling the calendar and guest house assignments. Another family from Kansas may be coming at the beginning of the year to fill this position.
The Keenan Wilson family is making the most of the rest of their time here. Follow them if you'd like to: http://fivefollowers.blogspot.com/. Keenan is a dr., his wife Cindy is a nurse who is homeschooling their three children. Evan is 18, Allie is 15, and Natalie is 12. What a blessing it is to have them here right now.
I'm hoping to get some new photos uploaded. It took 30 minutes to load one, then it did not load right, so I've started over.
We are getting settled in with the things that arrived on our shipment. We took medical equipment up to the hospital, as well. Dr. Kay Johnston donated two great medical chairs/exam tables. The dentist office desperately needed one so we put one there. The other one is now in maternity.
There were a couple of items the hospital in Cameroon purchased that we were bringing on our container. We had planned to ship them to Cameroon once we got access to our items here. But we were told they would just donate them to the ministry here. That is so kind of the folks there. We still miss our new friends there.
We have also been enjoying George and Elisabeth Faile while there are here for two weeks. George is helping at the hospital and Elisabeth is pitching in with items donated recently. Both library books and school books are here to be given to those who need them.
This is also the big 50th anniversary of First Baptist Church here in Nalerigu. They had a big party yesterday.
There is much ministry going on and much in our everyday family lives to keep us busy. I will close for now to hope this post will upload before I need to move on to other things today.
The Keenan Wilson family is making the most of the rest of their time here. Follow them if you'd like to: http://fivefollowers.blogspot.com/. Keenan is a dr., his wife Cindy is a nurse who is homeschooling their three children. Evan is 18, Allie is 15, and Natalie is 12. What a blessing it is to have them here right now.
I'm hoping to get some new photos uploaded. It took 30 minutes to load one, then it did not load right, so I've started over.
We are getting settled in with the things that arrived on our shipment. We took medical equipment up to the hospital, as well. Dr. Kay Johnston donated two great medical chairs/exam tables. The dentist office desperately needed one so we put one there. The other one is now in maternity.
There were a couple of items the hospital in Cameroon purchased that we were bringing on our container. We had planned to ship them to Cameroon once we got access to our items here. But we were told they would just donate them to the ministry here. That is so kind of the folks there. We still miss our new friends there.
We have also been enjoying George and Elisabeth Faile while there are here for two weeks. George is helping at the hospital and Elisabeth is pitching in with items donated recently. Both library books and school books are here to be given to those who need them.
This is also the big 50th anniversary of First Baptist Church here in Nalerigu. They had a big party yesterday.
There is much ministry going on and much in our everyday family lives to keep us busy. I will close for now to hope this post will upload before I need to move on to other things today.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Container
Thank you all for your prayers for our container. It arrived on Tuesday, October 4th. We are glad that is now behind us. I'm finding places for things. The kids are happy it is here. We are happy to have some medical supplies for the hospital, as well. Two large exam chairs were donated and will be helpful here, among other items.
Our internet had been out for awhile. Thank you for your patience as we hope to post more on the blog soon.
We love and miss you all much.
Our internet had been out for awhile. Thank you for your patience as we hope to post more on the blog soon.
We love and miss you all much.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Lazarus
Pictured in this photo is a young man named Lazarus who has been at the hospital for over 6 months. I will relate what I know of his story, though I may not have all the details straight. At some point, he lost his parents in an automobile accident. He is not from this area, but was visiting his grandmother up north here. He was playing soccer (called football) when he broke his leg. As can often happen here, his injury got infected. After much work and many months, it was determined his leg needed to be amputated.
Lazarus loves the Lord and knows English well. He reads his Bible daily. He is still in the hospital at this time though he gets around pretty well here on the compound during the day. His grandmother looks after him much of the time. Lazarus is able to get around some now on crutches. We are hopeful he will receive a prosthesis. Your prayers for him are greatly appreciated.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Updates
Hello to all of you led to follow us. We always enjoy hearing from you and are extremely encouraged by your emails, letters, and blog comments. We have settled in well to life here in Nalerigu again. Joel's work at the hospital is going well. We also have several weeks of school with the missionary kids behind us, too.
There are many things I want to blog about with photos. My last few attempts to load photos have not been successful. I will keep trying like I always do. Joel is taking an occasional photo at the hospital and will blog when he can, as well.
On a different note, Joel and I have several sermons on cd to encourage us spiritually. What is also so awesome is to have teachings on dvd so that we can see the preacher/teacher. That means so much to us over here. If any of you have any sermon dvds you are not using, we would love to use them. If you want to know more, email us!
Several of you have asked for an update on our container. We do not have it here yet. We have word we might receive it sometime this month. The original paperwork on shipping it from Cameroon to Ghana still needs to be sent from Cameroon. Thank you for keeping us in mind. The Lord will work things out in His time, as He sees fit. We are doing fine without these things in the meantime.
Joel and I have a desire to learn more of the main tribal language here. We'd love prayer that we would find Mampruli materials and also the time to learn more of the language.
The school age missionary kids here (such as Colt) now are ministering a couple of times a week to people here on the compound. I will blog about this more with photos when I'm able. It is great fun to watch!
Thanks for checking in on us. God is good!
There are many things I want to blog about with photos. My last few attempts to load photos have not been successful. I will keep trying like I always do. Joel is taking an occasional photo at the hospital and will blog when he can, as well.
On a different note, Joel and I have several sermons on cd to encourage us spiritually. What is also so awesome is to have teachings on dvd so that we can see the preacher/teacher. That means so much to us over here. If any of you have any sermon dvds you are not using, we would love to use them. If you want to know more, email us!
Several of you have asked for an update on our container. We do not have it here yet. We have word we might receive it sometime this month. The original paperwork on shipping it from Cameroon to Ghana still needs to be sent from Cameroon. Thank you for keeping us in mind. The Lord will work things out in His time, as He sees fit. We are doing fine without these things in the meantime.
Joel and I have a desire to learn more of the main tribal language here. We'd love prayer that we would find Mampruli materials and also the time to learn more of the language.
The school age missionary kids here (such as Colt) now are ministering a couple of times a week to people here on the compound. I will blog about this more with photos when I'm able. It is great fun to watch!
Thanks for checking in on us. God is good!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
July 4th Celebration
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Hey, dear ones. We are doing great. Abigail had broken her wrist but she be as good as new by Monday or so. It was a small break. She fell while playing we were playing in our yard one night.
I'm down here at the school house using the internet early in the morning when the speed is a little faster. We sure miss being able to be in better touch with you all. Any IT person feel led to make a month or two long mission trip here to help us work out our IT issues? :) Truly, it would be a blessing.
School starts on August 15th for us here. It has usually been just us and the Hewitts doing school here in the past. This fall we will have around 12 children, I believe.
There are many photos I would like to share. I just need to be able to get down here to use the internet (and at a time of day when internet is on and is fast enough to load photos). So, hang tight.
We love and miss you all and love hearing from you.
I'm down here at the school house using the internet early in the morning when the speed is a little faster. We sure miss being able to be in better touch with you all. Any IT person feel led to make a month or two long mission trip here to help us work out our IT issues? :) Truly, it would be a blessing.
School starts on August 15th for us here. It has usually been just us and the Hewitts doing school here in the past. This fall we will have around 12 children, I believe.
There are many photos I would like to share. I just need to be able to get down here to use the internet (and at a time of day when internet is on and is fast enough to load photos). So, hang tight.
We love and miss you all and love hearing from you.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
June Arrival in Accra, Ghana
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Updates
We are settling into life here in Nalerigu again. It is wonderful to see friends we've had for a long time now, as well as make new ones.
Life is not without excitement. We were playing "Hide and Seek Base" the other night outside the house with some other folks. Abigail did not see a large rock in the way and fell hard onto the ground. She ended up having a small break in her right wrist. She is left-handed, so she's hanging in there pretty well.
We've had part of the house painted. I'm waiting on fabric from the container for the rest of the house. We have word it is supposed to be on a ship now for Ghana. We are glad of that. Relocating in Africa is, of course, quite expensive. But we are hanging in there.
I am hoping to post the last few photos from Cameroon and update with some from Ghana soon. I'm here at the school house using the internet while Joel is with the kids, so I've got some extended time here to get some things done online.
Thanks for your prayers. There are so many people all around us with so many needs. We need continued discernment to know every step the Lord is calling us to take.
Life is not without excitement. We were playing "Hide and Seek Base" the other night outside the house with some other folks. Abigail did not see a large rock in the way and fell hard onto the ground. She ended up having a small break in her right wrist. She is left-handed, so she's hanging in there pretty well.
We've had part of the house painted. I'm waiting on fabric from the container for the rest of the house. We have word it is supposed to be on a ship now for Ghana. We are glad of that. Relocating in Africa is, of course, quite expensive. But we are hanging in there.
I am hoping to post the last few photos from Cameroon and update with some from Ghana soon. I'm here at the school house using the internet while Joel is with the kids, so I've got some extended time here to get some things done online.
Thanks for your prayers. There are so many people all around us with so many needs. We need continued discernment to know every step the Lord is calling us to take.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Second Week
We are well into our second week back in Nalerigu. Things are going really well. We continue to get settled in at home. Our oven is not working well so we are working on getting that fixed. More suitcases and trunks are unpacked each day. We only have the trunks of things we had packed from Ghana to get to Cameroon. We had left a good bit of our personal belongings here in Ghana when we left last year but had chosen a few of those items to take to Cameroon. And then we have our suitcases we took from the States to Cameroon. So, not too much to deal with at this point. The house desperately needs new paint as it was already needing it before we left a year ago. It is nice to get a lot of this taken care of before our container arrives. It is still in port in Cameroon. Thanks for your continued prayers as we continue to get that worked out.
It is so fun to see so many faces from our first term in Ghana. Joel has started back full-time at the hospital this week. The children seem to be settling in very well. Colt spends much of his time playing outside. Between the Hewitts, the Coppolas (friends here from the States for a month), the Nyhus', and the Ghanian children, there is a real neighborhood of kids right now! It is great! And there are two more families on the way-one for six months and one more long-term.
It is so nice to have one term behind us. Our perspective is so different now. Life can be hard here, but it is so worth it to minister to the people. We are returning refreshed as I'm sure many missionaries have done before us.
Several of you have asked about skyping us. Please email us again about that. We will try to set up times for that as we would LOVE to hear from you that way!
We continue to look for ways to minister to the people here in the midst of Joel's duties at the hospital and my duties at home with Colt (now 10), Abigail (close to 4), and Annaleigh (2 on July 20th). They are adjusting and adapting so well.
Did I say this before in another post? Some have asked about Baby. She and her family are doing well. She is expecting a new baby in August. It is so good to see her again. She is such a blessing to our family. The kids are so happy to see her, as well.
We sense the Lord with us. Thank you for your continued prayers for us as we settle here.
It is so fun to see so many faces from our first term in Ghana. Joel has started back full-time at the hospital this week. The children seem to be settling in very well. Colt spends much of his time playing outside. Between the Hewitts, the Coppolas (friends here from the States for a month), the Nyhus', and the Ghanian children, there is a real neighborhood of kids right now! It is great! And there are two more families on the way-one for six months and one more long-term.
It is so nice to have one term behind us. Our perspective is so different now. Life can be hard here, but it is so worth it to minister to the people. We are returning refreshed as I'm sure many missionaries have done before us.
Several of you have asked about skyping us. Please email us again about that. We will try to set up times for that as we would LOVE to hear from you that way!
We continue to look for ways to minister to the people here in the midst of Joel's duties at the hospital and my duties at home with Colt (now 10), Abigail (close to 4), and Annaleigh (2 on July 20th). They are adjusting and adapting so well.
Did I say this before in another post? Some have asked about Baby. She and her family are doing well. She is expecting a new baby in August. It is so good to see her again. She is such a blessing to our family. The kids are so happy to see her, as well.
We sense the Lord with us. Thank you for your continued prayers for us as we settle here.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Friday Makes a Week
We are so happy to be back in Nalerigu. Tomorrow makes a week that we have been back. The week has flown by as we try to get somewhat settled. We have been cleaning, cleaning out, and unpacking most of this time. Still a long way to go. Joel has been with me all week at home. He starts working at the hospital on Monday. It will just be me and the kids then at the house this week.
We miss you all much and miss more contact with you all. We are back to internet at the school house. This is my first time to come down for the internet all week with all I've been doing at home. The internet signal at the house is very weak so we cannot really get online at home. Just letting you all know why you don't see us online as much anymore.
We have been so happy to see so many friends already-both Ghanians and Americans. The kids are having a great time. Annaleigh is quickly getting used to her new home, as well.
Some of you have asked about Baby. She is doing well. She is expecting a baby in August. We are so excited as she and Joe have wanted another child for a long time. She looks great.
The Nyhus' family has been running the guest house during the last year. They have done amazing ministries both in and outside of the hospital. Greg and Wendy are gone to Israel right now getting heart surgery for yet another young child. They return in roughly two weeks.
When we have a chance we will try to load a few new photos. We will let you know how things are going here.
We miss you all much and miss more contact with you all. We are back to internet at the school house. This is my first time to come down for the internet all week with all I've been doing at home. The internet signal at the house is very weak so we cannot really get online at home. Just letting you all know why you don't see us online as much anymore.
We have been so happy to see so many friends already-both Ghanians and Americans. The kids are having a great time. Annaleigh is quickly getting used to her new home, as well.
Some of you have asked about Baby. She is doing well. She is expecting a baby in August. We are so excited as she and Joe have wanted another child for a long time. She looks great.
The Nyhus' family has been running the guest house during the last year. They have done amazing ministries both in and outside of the hospital. Greg and Wendy are gone to Israel right now getting heart surgery for yet another young child. They return in roughly two weeks.
When we have a chance we will try to load a few new photos. We will let you know how things are going here.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Nalerigu
We made it to Nalerigu and are so happy to be here. It's still hard to believe we are back. It is already wonderful to reunite with friends. We will update you more as we have time. We will spend the next few days cleaning and unpacking, among other things. We will really miss the friends we made in Mbingo but are glad to be back here. Thanks for you prayers for our family.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Travel Plans
It is so nice to be at the guest house for a short time. Colt, Abigail, and I will probably take in a movie at the theater middle of the day today. Joel is getting the oil changed this morning on our truck. This afternoon Joel needs to pack up the back of the truck with our things. The cab will be stuffed with things, as well.
Tomorrow around 4 am or so, Joel and Colt plan to leave for Nalerigu. We have heard the road out of Accra is even worse than a year ago. Leaving so early will hopefully get them to Nalerigu before dark tomorrow night.
The girls are I are flying from Accra to Tamale. Our flight leaves at 1 pm. We will get in a good meal at breakfast at the guest house before traveling. Then a hospital driver will pick us up at the airport in Tamale and we will ride the 2 1/2 hour drive to Nalerigu. If the roads are fairly dry we will be doing much bouncing and if there has been a good amount of rain, we will do much sloshing! As long as we don't slosh into a ditch, we should be good! Colt says we are racing to see which group (Dickens' girls or Dickens' boys) will arrive in Nalerigu first!
Thank you, thank you for your continued prayers. Send us your prayer requests, as well.
Tomorrow around 4 am or so, Joel and Colt plan to leave for Nalerigu. We have heard the road out of Accra is even worse than a year ago. Leaving so early will hopefully get them to Nalerigu before dark tomorrow night.
The girls are I are flying from Accra to Tamale. Our flight leaves at 1 pm. We will get in a good meal at breakfast at the guest house before traveling. Then a hospital driver will pick us up at the airport in Tamale and we will ride the 2 1/2 hour drive to Nalerigu. If the roads are fairly dry we will be doing much bouncing and if there has been a good amount of rain, we will do much sloshing! As long as we don't slosh into a ditch, we should be good! Colt says we are racing to see which group (Dickens' girls or Dickens' boys) will arrive in Nalerigu first!
Thank you, thank you for your continued prayers. Send us your prayer requests, as well.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Packing
Aaaahhh. Time for bed. Packing for Ghana pretty much complete except for a few last minute items in the morning.
It is very hard to leave everyone here. There was a nice "Goodbye" gathering for us tonight with the other missionaries. You all have been a blessing to us in so many ways. We had no idea when we arrived that we would be leaving so soon.
We are ready to get to Ghana and get settled in a bit, though. Tomorrow is a travel day for us. Then Friday will also be a travel day-from Accra to Tamale. Thank you for your continued prayers.
It is very hard to leave everyone here. There was a nice "Goodbye" gathering for us tonight with the other missionaries. You all have been a blessing to us in so many ways. We had no idea when we arrived that we would be leaving so soon.
We are ready to get to Ghana and get settled in a bit, though. Tomorrow is a travel day for us. Then Friday will also be a travel day-from Accra to Tamale. Thank you for your continued prayers.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Leaving
It's hard to believe in a little over a week we will be leaving Cameroon. We have enjoyed our time here immensely and did not know when we arrived that our stay here would be so short.
I posted the words to that wonderful Matthew West song again because it just has such an incredibly encouraging message. May you also be blessed by those words.
Today is unusual in that it has yet to rain. The upside to this fact is that our clothes dry much faster on the line with the sun shining! I enjoyed a little walk this afternoon in this beautiful, mountainous region. Joel graciously put the girls down for their nap/rest time.
We have only just begun getting to know the missionaries here. We are still enjoying our visits with them and will miss them so much. Building relationships with the Cameroonians was also something we were starting to enjoy, as well. Of course, that takes time and we are quickly running out of that.
Having left home four months ago, we are all more than ready to get settled. We look forward to what the Lord has for us in Nalerigu.
We fly from Cameroon to Ghana on June 21st. We arrive in Accra, Ghana that night. Accra is the captial city of Ghana, located on the coast. We plan to stay a few nights there to look for supplies. Our truck is there now waiting for us with our belongings that we had brought from Ghana to Cameroon in the truck. Even the cab is full of these items. There is not room for all of us in the truck. Joel and Colt will drive the roughly 14 hour drive to Nalerigu the same day the girls and I will fly to Tamale, then ride on to Nalerigu.
We so appreciate your continued prayers for us. Here are some specific requests for those of you who have asked:
-That the details will be quickly worked out for our container to be shipped to Nalerigu, Ghana from the Cameroon port
-Safe travels for all of us
-For the continued mission work here at Mbingo Hospital
-For the continued mission work at BMC in Nalerigu
We LOVE hearing from you all by email and snail mail. Some have asked again for our Ghana address. Here it is:
I posted the words to that wonderful Matthew West song again because it just has such an incredibly encouraging message. May you also be blessed by those words.
Today is unusual in that it has yet to rain. The upside to this fact is that our clothes dry much faster on the line with the sun shining! I enjoyed a little walk this afternoon in this beautiful, mountainous region. Joel graciously put the girls down for their nap/rest time.
We have only just begun getting to know the missionaries here. We are still enjoying our visits with them and will miss them so much. Building relationships with the Cameroonians was also something we were starting to enjoy, as well. Of course, that takes time and we are quickly running out of that.
Having left home four months ago, we are all more than ready to get settled. We look forward to what the Lord has for us in Nalerigu.
We fly from Cameroon to Ghana on June 21st. We arrive in Accra, Ghana that night. Accra is the captial city of Ghana, located on the coast. We plan to stay a few nights there to look for supplies. Our truck is there now waiting for us with our belongings that we had brought from Ghana to Cameroon in the truck. Even the cab is full of these items. There is not room for all of us in the truck. Joel and Colt will drive the roughly 14 hour drive to Nalerigu the same day the girls and I will fly to Tamale, then ride on to Nalerigu.
We so appreciate your continued prayers for us. Here are some specific requests for those of you who have asked:
-That the details will be quickly worked out for our container to be shipped to Nalerigu, Ghana from the Cameroon port
-Safe travels for all of us
-For the continued mission work here at Mbingo Hospital
-For the continued mission work at BMC in Nalerigu
We LOVE hearing from you all by email and snail mail. Some have asked again for our Ghana address. Here it is:
Dickens
Ghana, NR
Baptist Medical CentreP. O. Box 50Nalerigu via Gambaga
Saturday, June 11, 2011
My Own Little World by Matthew West
In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I've never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world, population: me
I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don't like what I see
Yeah, it's easy to do when it's population: me
What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
Stopped at a red light looked out my window
I saw a cardboard sign said, "help this homeless widow"
And just above that sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, God, what have I been doing?
So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye
Oh, how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money than I drove on through
And my own little world reached population: two
What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
My own little world
Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me
What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
That I could be living right now
I don't want to miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now
Outside my own little world
My own little world
My own little world
I've never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world, population: me
I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don't like what I see
Yeah, it's easy to do when it's population: me
What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
Stopped at a red light looked out my window
I saw a cardboard sign said, "help this homeless widow"
And just above that sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, God, what have I been doing?
So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye
Oh, how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money than I drove on through
And my own little world reached population: two
What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
My own little world
Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me
What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
That I could be living right now
I don't want to miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now
Outside my own little world
My own little world
My own little world
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
In Cameroon til Later in June
Thanks so much for your continued prayers and interest in our lives. We are doing well. Joel made it home safely last night back here to Cameroon. He took the truck when he did because his Nigerian visa expires this month. (He drove the truck from Cameroon, through Nigeria, Benin, & Togo, then into Ghana.) We will be here in Cameroon until about the third week in June. We are still working on getting our container from the port here in Cameroon to Ghana. Stay tuned...
Monday, May 23, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Heading back to Nalerigu
We have had a great experience at Mbingo Baptist Hospital in Cameroon. The residency programs in internal medicine and surgery are going extremely well. The missionaries are great people. The hospital is well run and the doctors and staff are very good people. After a lot of prayer, however, we felt like our hearts are still with the people of Northern Ghana. There remains an extreme need for medical care in a region with few doctors. We have decided to return as of 21 June. We appreciate your prayers during this time of transition.
Vincent, a driver for the Cameroon Baptist Convention, and Joel drove the truck and trunks with personal good from Bamenda Cameroon to Lagos Nigeria. Joel drove the truck from Lagos Nigeria to Accra Ghana. We really felt the Lord's presence as there were no major difficulties. I did get some bad fuel, or had a miscommunication as to the type of fuel, as I left Nigeria and had to get the fuel tank drained as I entered Benin. I was blessed to find somoene who spoke enough English to help take the tank off the truck and drain the fuel. I made it to Accra around 8 pm to the guest house in Accra where Jimmy and Sylvia blessed me with a hamburger (first meal during the three days of travelling other than crackers and bread).
We will miss the great folks in Cameroon who have become our friends but look forward to resuming work in Nalerigu. Please pray as we make arrangements for our shipping container to be forwarded to Ghana from Cameroon, the last hurdle in our transition. We appreciate all the great folks back home and accross the nations who have supported our journey. I am thankful for such a supportive and loving wife who has been such a pillar of strength during this time.
blessings to all and come see us in Ghana,
Joel.
Vincent, a driver for the Cameroon Baptist Convention, and Joel drove the truck and trunks with personal good from Bamenda Cameroon to Lagos Nigeria. Joel drove the truck from Lagos Nigeria to Accra Ghana. We really felt the Lord's presence as there were no major difficulties. I did get some bad fuel, or had a miscommunication as to the type of fuel, as I left Nigeria and had to get the fuel tank drained as I entered Benin. I was blessed to find somoene who spoke enough English to help take the tank off the truck and drain the fuel. I made it to Accra around 8 pm to the guest house in Accra where Jimmy and Sylvia blessed me with a hamburger (first meal during the three days of travelling other than crackers and bread).
We will miss the great folks in Cameroon who have become our friends but look forward to resuming work in Nalerigu. Please pray as we make arrangements for our shipping container to be forwarded to Ghana from Cameroon, the last hurdle in our transition. We appreciate all the great folks back home and accross the nations who have supported our journey. I am thankful for such a supportive and loving wife who has been such a pillar of strength during this time.
blessings to all and come see us in Ghana,
Joel.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Sad News at Mbingo
Yesterday afternoon (Thursday) an internal medicine resident's four year old son died very suddenly. The doctor's name is Dr. Koudjo. His son had some kind of operation on his leg and died either very shortly afterward or while still on the table. The details are a bit sketchy.
Also, I've mentioned to you that my next-door neighbor, Mildred, has a boy Annaleigh's age who has cancer. He died this afternoon. Both deaths are so terribly sad. Both boys have already been buried. Here they bury young children extremely quickly.
Please be in prayer for both of these families who follow the Lord.
Also, I've mentioned to you that my next-door neighbor, Mildred, has a boy Annaleigh's age who has cancer. He died this afternoon. Both deaths are so terribly sad. Both boys have already been buried. Here they bury young children extremely quickly.
Please be in prayer for both of these families who follow the Lord.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Children Playing
Strangely Quiet?
I know I have not posted a lot in the last few weeks. I have a new photo or two to post. I am sure you'd all like to hear from Joel, as well. Hopefully soon he will be able to post something.
We continue to enjoy the beautiful scenery and cool temps here at Mbingo. We are always in the 60-80 degree range here and it is wonderful! We are enjoying getting to know both the long-term missionaries as well as the volunteers who are here for short-term work.
This morning in my time with the Lord I heard Him telling me to rest in Him and be made whole. I sense Him with me strongly today and am loving it! He is wanting me to keep my eyes on Him.
We continue to appreciate your prayers as Joel continues to evaluate things at the hospital. It's an amazing place. They even provide physical therapy and chemo and radiation for patients.
More to come. We love and miss you all much.
We continue to enjoy the beautiful scenery and cool temps here at Mbingo. We are always in the 60-80 degree range here and it is wonderful! We are enjoying getting to know both the long-term missionaries as well as the volunteers who are here for short-term work.
This morning in my time with the Lord I heard Him telling me to rest in Him and be made whole. I sense Him with me strongly today and am loving it! He is wanting me to keep my eyes on Him.
We continue to appreciate your prayers as Joel continues to evaluate things at the hospital. It's an amazing place. They even provide physical therapy and chemo and radiation for patients.
More to come. We love and miss you all much.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
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